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Aspen Acres Fire Destroys Over 160 Structures, Forces Evacuations as Dozens of Large Blazes Burn Across West
The wildfire southwest of Denver expanded to nearly 105 square miles with zero containment by Friday. It prompted evacuations across two counties and the deployment of National Guard troops. The blaze is one of about 40 large uncontained fires burning in the West.
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The Aspen Acres fire southwest of Denver destroyed more than 160 structures and forced the evacuation of thousands of residents across two Colorado counties by Friday, July 3, 2026, the Los Angeles Times reported. Erratic winds pushed the blaze through the region. The fire expanded overnight by 17 square miles to nearly 105 square miles with zero containment.
Fire personnel scooped water from the Pueblo Reservoir to combat the flames. All of Colorado City, an unincorporated community of about 2,200 people, was ordered evacuated along with the towns of Beulah, Rye and San Isabel, according to the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office. About 50 National Guard soldiers were sent Friday to staff checkpoints on roads in Custer and Pueblo counties.
Guard members also assisted State Park Rangers with additional boats to keep boaters clear of water-scooping operations. The Aspen Acres fire is one of about 40 uncontained large blazes burning mostly in the West, fueled by months of dry weather and a record lack of snow this past winter in some places, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Fire crews had contained about 65 percent of the Snyder Fire on the Colorado-Utah border, where three members of a Helitack team were killed and two others injured last weekend when they were overcome by flames.
The Cottonwood fire in southwestern Utah had grown to more than 147 square miles by Friday while the Babylon fire in the southeast corner of the state reached 133 square miles.
